bei3臂
Jyutpingbei3
Yalebei
Definition
The arm; specifically the section of the arm between the wrist and the shoulder.
neutralbody
How it's used
臂 is a formal or anatomical term that is rarely used in casual daily conversation. Most Cantonese speakers prefer using 手 or 手臂 to describe the arm in general contexts. It is typically reserved for medical discussions, literary descriptions, or specific martial arts contexts.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
He hurt his arm and it hurts so much he cannot move it.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 臂 on its own to describe the whole arm in casual speech, as it sounds overly clinical or poetic. Always use 手臂 if you need to be specific about the arm rather than the hand.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
